NEWSLETTERS

Newsletter dated March 1, 2006

NTWA Newsletter from President Gary West
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NTWA Website

        An NTWA website could be fully functioning in time for the Kentucky Derby.

        This has been an on-and-off project for some time. You might recall it was more than two years ago that the Turf Writers initiated the process of creating a website with Robert Williams, who specializes in racing-related websites and has worked with such clients as Shadwell and Darby Dan.

        Well, Robert happens to be the husband of Jill Williams, the NTWA secretary-treasurer. And responding to my inquiries about a website, Jill recently informed the Board that the old project, which has been stalled for a while, could easily be jumpstarted.

        And so during a recent conference call, the Board voted to allocate up to $1,000 for the completion of the website. The site, still in its inchoate stage, will be available to view soon.

        We still need to supply the content, but the website, I think, offers much potential for the organization. And Jill, who has some expertise in the area, has graciously agreed to add maintenance of the website to her responsibilities.
 

NTWA Rankings?

        The Board also discussed the possibility of the NTWA's coming out with its own Breeders' Cup rankings. This could be something we'd make available on the website. The creation of such rankings is consistent with the "objects and purposes" of the association, as stated in the official Bylaws, to encourage better understanding.

        Last year, of course, the NTRA had its "World Thoroughbred Championships Poll," which was determined by a panel that, strangely enough, didn't include one turf writer from a major daily newspaper. Frankly, I think the NTWA can do better.

        The purpose of such rankings, as I see it, would be, quite simply, to identify for the public the leading contenders in each Breeders' Cup division. If this is something we want to pursue, we need to decide, of course, how to proceed and whether it's worth the trouble.

        A weekly or biweekly poll of the entire membership would be a logistical nightmare. But enlisting a panel, perhaps five persons appointed by the president, would serve the purpose.

        Anyway, this is something I suggest we consider. We'll discuss it further at the May meeting at Churchill Downs.


Voting

        Linda Dougherty of The Trentonian recently wrote to ask if she could vote by email in the upcoming elections. Well, as I understand the Bylaws, she can't: "Elections of officers and directors shall be made by Regular Members at the annual Churchill Downs meeting."

        But her inquiry raises the question of whether we might want to change the Bylaws to allow for voting by email. This question seems especially relevant at a time when newspapers are cutting back their coverage and when perhaps only a tenth of our members can attend the meeting at Churchill Downs.

        Although the Board doesn't have the authority to amend or alter the Bylaws only a two-thirds vote of the Regular Members at the Churchill meeting or in response to a call by mail can do that this subject also came up during the recent conference call. Some members expressed the concern that opening up the vote to email might lead to a Board comprised of turf writers who don't regularly attend major events such as the Triple Crown races and the Breeders'  Cup. This could indeed be a problem since it's important to have an NTWA representative at such affairs. And some expressed the fear that an email vote would make it easier for a conspiratorial group to stuff the ballot box.

        But it seems to me that stuffing the ballot box is much more possible when only 20 or so people have an opportunity to vote. And it seems that the benefits of greater participation outweigh any risk that might be associated with a more democratic process.

        Again, this is something we can discuss further at the May meeting. But if you have any comments regarding a change in the Bylaws to allow for email voting or any suggestions about creating the NTWA Breeders' Cup Rankings, please pass them along to me.


The NTWA-Youbet.com Scholarship

        Through March 31, The Race for Education Foundation is accepting applications for the first NTWA-Youbet.com Scholarship. Elisabeth Jensen Collier of The Race for Education Foundation informs me that most of the applications arrive at the deadline students, it seems, haven't changed much over the years but that she already has received 15. Some of them, she said, look "very good." Board member Rick Snider of the Washington Times will be the NTWA representative on the selection committee.


Eclipse Voting

        Some members wondered how a horse could be among the three finalists in the Eclipse voting, but then not finish among the top three, e.g. Adieu. If nothing else, it looks strange, like a dog walking on its hind legs.

        The answer is that finalists are determined by total points (in the top-three voting) and the winners by first-place votes. Adieu received no first-place votes, but French Park, who wasn't a finalist, received one and so finished third in the voting for the award.

        Jim Gluckson of the NTRA said he will discuss the situation with the auditors to see if we can find a way to dispel the awkwardness.
 

Professor Dan

        The University of Kentucky is offering a new course: "Writing for the horse industry." And in its selection of an instructor, UK has demonstrated an admirable talent for picking winners. Longtime NTWA member Dan Liebman will teach the course.


Retired turf writer dies

        Joe Agrella, who covered horse racing for more than 40 years for the Chicago Sun-Times, died March 11 at the age of 93. After his retirement from the newspaper in 1978, he wrote freelance for various publications until 1994.


And, finally, a manifesto

        Longtime NTWA member Steve Davidowitz responded to news of recent layoffs and retirements with a commentary that he asked to be included in the newsletter.
 
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The theme of this commentary has been spelled out periodically by a handful of racing writers -- dinosaurs we are called and extinct we are becoming. . . .
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It is ironic that TV coverage of horse racing is increasing and wagering handles around the world are similarly rising, while newspaper coverage of racing has been decreasing in America. But it is no surprise.
 
In fact, diminished newspaper coverage has been accelerated by a racing industry all too willing to provide the print media with dozens of free stories (with their usual PR spin) and free handicapping analysis.
 
On the receiving end, too many newspapers happily accept these handouts while they layoff professionals and discard their fundamental role as watchdogs in the public interest.
 
This is borderline anti-American.
 
Consider that racing is a multi billion dollar . . . enterprise that affects every citizen in every racing state. Consider that such an enterprise that involves legalized gambling desperately needs sound journalistic coverage and column style critiques of its practices, on and off the track, in the boardrooms, in its myriad betting venues and on its Internet websites.
 
Some of these practices would make front page stories if they pertained to other sports.  Just a few of the key contemporary issues that get perfunctory coverage include steroids to promote horse performance used by licensed horse trainers and track sanctioned veterinarians to achieve 'Ruthian' rates of success. (Barry Bonds anyone?) Others relate to unethical claiming practices involving horses that may be but one race away from serious injury.
 
Where are the newspaper sponsored investigative reports delving into the shaky supervision the sport receives from politically appointed officials?  Shouldn't there be some accountability for the lack of scrupulous control over something as simple as inaccurate clockings of workouts? Isn't it important to hold the game's officials to the fire on anything that inevitably will mislead the betting public? Isn't it important to protect the group that pays all those billions of dollars . . . that drive the industry and affect the security of many thousands of racing related jobs in each state?  Aren't these thousands of readers and their billions of dollars important to newspapers?
Why don't we see investigative reports on how the wagering public is being unfairly ripped off by excessive taxation of winnings after bets already have been taxed?
 
In my view, it is a disgrace that newspapers have abandoned their journalistic responsibility to the public at large and to the legal wagering public. Meanwhile, the racing industry is quick to cry about the decline in newspaper space, but really it only wants more PR stories and resents any serious attempt at good journalism behind the scenes that would help the industry to reform. And make no mistake, this is a sport that has been decaying from within for several decades.
 
Sure, horse racing has great popularity in many corners of the world, especially Europe and the Orient---and we do have our big fans here, too. At its root, horse racing is the greatest (gambling) game man has ever invented and it is populated by beautiful, swift animals and many interesting, dedicated people, many of whom deserve plenty of press. Sadly, they might never get it unless more truth is put in the mix.
 
As I see it, there is nothing schizophrenic in wanting to see better journalism and more insightful commentary alongside more good human and equine interest stories. But you cannot have one without the other. At the bottom line, we are diminishing in news space primarily because too many puff pieces have been produced on demand at the whim of editors who couldn't care less, and we are diminishing because too many puff pieces are being fed to the news media directly by the industry itself. Such a corrupt imbalance only leads to the lack of credibility of the coverage and a deserved loss of readership.
 
It is the industry's fault, newspapers are at fault, and it is our fault, too.
 
The solution is difficult, but it might be brought to focus by each racing writer and each organization representing racing writers----such as the NTWA and various state level organizations. There is a need to challenge the management of every newspaper and racing organization to turn toward a more responsible journalistic approach on as many levels as possible. . .It is even reasonable to suggest that the mission statement of the NTWA should be to provide news organizations with facts, figures and the logical consequences of what they are failing to cover. Is it really good business for any news organization to abandon the public trust and settle for such a low common denominator?
 
If that is what we must accept, the free press in America has a dim future.
 
Steve Davidowitz

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